The man who played victim at the Charbonneau Commission was grilled under cross-examination Wednesday.

Construction company owner Joe Borsellino has been pointing the blame about collusion in Montreal at a mid-level city engineer, while commissioners don't appear to be placing much faith in what Borsellino has to say.

"You have neither the air of someone who is convinced, no are you convincing," said Justice France Charbonneau.

In his testimony, the owner of Garnier Construction, who only reluctantly admitted to any facts when presented with transcripts and audio recordings, said corruption has been endemic at Montreal City Hall for decades.

"What I'm saying clearly is, because I put an offer of $7 million, approximately, I'm admitting that the job is rigged. I'm admitting it," said Borsellino.

Borsellino testified that he showered city officials with gifts and free trips to try to ease what he calls a bad relationship with the city.

The prosecutor showed the opposite, however: that Borsellino's company was indeed doing great business with city hall, and that the gifts were likely bribes to city officials, thanking them for major construction contracts.